06/06/2026
Great guide for things to do in Pembrokeshire....
20 Things you MUST do when holidaying Pembrokeshire 🌊🏰🦭
Pembrokeshire is not just a holiday destination. It is a full reset button with beaches, castles, cliffs, wildlife, harbours, ancient stones, proper sea air and the sort of sunsets that make everyone suddenly go quiet for once. A rare miracle.
This corner of West Wales has one of the most spectacular coastlines in Britain, with the Pembrokeshire Coast Path stretching for 186 miles from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south. Along the way, you will find golden beaches, wild headlands, historic towns, tiny coves, working harbours, offshore islands, ancient monuments and enough “wow” moments to fill your camera roll by lunchtime.
So, whether you are visiting for a week, a weekend, or just nipping down for “one day” and accidentally falling in love with the place, here is our definitive list of 20 things you MUST do when holidaying in Pembrokeshire.
1. Walk part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path 🚶♀️🌊
You do not have to walk the whole 186 miles, unless your knees are made of steel and your family are extremely patient. But you absolutely must walk at least one stretch.
The Coast Path is one of Pembrokeshire’s greatest treasures. It takes you past cliffs, beaches, wildflowers, seabirds, hidden coves, old harbour villages and views that stop conversation dead.
Try a section around St Davids, Solva, Marloes, Newport, Manorbier, Tenby, Broad Haven, Stackpole or Porthgain. Take water, wear proper shoes and check the weather. Pembrokeshire is gorgeous, but it still enjoys testing your coat choices.
2. Watch the sunset on the west coast 🌅
A Pembrokeshire sunset is not just a nice sky. It is an event.
Head to the western side of the county and find a beach, cliff path, harbour wall or grassy headland. As the sun drops towards the sea, the sky can turn gold, pink, orange, purple and deep blue in the space of half an hour.
Newgale, Broad Haven, Little Haven, Marloes, Dale, St Brides, Solva and Whitesands are all wonderful places to try. Bring a flask, a hoodie and someone who knows when to stop talking.
3. Spend a proper day on the beach 🏖️
Pembrokeshire beaches are the real deal. There are huge sandy beaches for families, wild beaches for walkers, surf beaches, sheltered coves, rockpooling spots and postcard-perfect bays.
Try Barafundle Bay for beauty, Freshwater West for wild Atlantic drama, Tenby for classic seaside colour, Whitesands for surf, Newgale for space, Broad Haven for easy access, Manorbier for castle-backed charm and Freshwater East for a gentler family day.
Pack layers. Even in summer. Especially in summer. This is Wales. We do optimism, but we also do wind.
4. Visit St Davids, Britain’s smallest city ⛪
St Davids may be a city, but do not expect traffic jams and office blocks. This is a city by cathedral, not by chaos.
The cathedral sits in a sheltered hollow and is one of the most important religious sites in Wales. The surrounding streets, stone buildings, nearby coast and sense of history make St Davids one of the most atmospheric places in the county.
Give yourself time to wander. This is not a place to rush. St Davids rewards slow feet and curious eyes.
5. Explore Solva harbour ⚓
Solva is one of Pembrokeshire’s great little gems. The harbour sits between steep sides, with boats, water, cottages, woodland and coast path all packed into one beautiful place.
At low tide, the harbour changes completely, revealing sand, channels and resting boats. At high tide, it becomes a calm, sheltered inlet full of colour and movement.
Walk up to the Gribin for the view over the harbour and out to sea. It is one of those views that makes you pretend you are just taking one photo, then take 47.
6. Take a boat trip to an island 🛥️
Pembrokeshire’s offshore islands are among the county’s greatest natural wonders. They are home to seabirds, seals, dramatic cliffs, wildflowers and some of the richest coastal wildlife in Wales.
Caldey Island, off Tenby, is reached by boat, not by walking across at low tide. That is important. Do not try to walk there. Unless you are part seal, and even then, please reconsider.
Boat trips also run around parts of the coast for wildlife watching, island views and sea caves. Always check sailing times, weather conditions and official advice before setting off.
7. Look for puffins, seabirds and seals 🐧🦭
Pembrokeshire is a wildlife wonderland.
In spring and summer, seabirds return to the cliffs and offshore islands. Puffins, razorbills, guillemots and Manx shearwaters are among the species associated with this coast. Later in the year, grey seals become one of the great sights of Pembrokeshire.
Seal pups are most often seen on quiet beaches and coves from late summer into autumn. Watch from a safe distance, use binoculars and never approach a seal or pup. They are wild animals, not a selfie station.
8. Visit a castle 🏰
Pembrokeshire has castles with serious presence.
Pembroke Castle is one of the most impressive fortresses in Wales and is famously linked with the birth of Henry VII. Carew Castle sits beside a scenic millpond and tidal mill, with layers of history going back centuries. Manorbier Castle has one of the finest settings of all, looking out towards the sea above the village and beach.
Pick one. Better still, pick three. Castles are one of the few things in life where more is usually the correct answer.
9. Discover Tenby on foot 🌈
Tenby is one of the most recognisable seaside towns in Wales, and for good reason.
Walk the harbour. Wander through the old town walls. Look down over the beaches. Take in the pastel-coloured houses above the water. At low tide, the beaches open out beautifully, and the whole town feels like it has been painted for a postcard.
Tenby is popular, so go early if you can. Stay late if you can. And if the sun comes out, congratulations, you have completed seaside mode.
10. Go rockpooling 🦀
Rockpooling is not just for children. Adults simply pretend they are supervising while becoming deeply emotionally invested in finding a crab.
Pembrokeshire’s rocky shores can be full of small wonders: anemones, shrimp, limpets, tiny fish, shells, seaweed and crabs with far too much confidence for their size.
Try suitable rocky areas around places such as Dale, Manorbier, Tenby, Broad Haven South and parts of the north coast. Always check tide times, avoid rough weather, keep away from unstable cliffs and return wildlife gently to where you found it.
11. Try coasteering, kayaking or paddleboarding 🌊
Pembrokeshire is one of Britain’s great outdoor adventure destinations.
The mix of cliffs, caves, beaches, coves and clean coastal water makes it a brilliant place for sea-based activities. Coasteering, kayaking and paddleboarding are all popular ways to experience the coastline from a different angle.
Use qualified instructors, wear the correct safety equipment and respect the sea. The water may look inviting, but it is not a swimming pool with scenery.
12. Visit the Preseli Hills ⛰️
Pembrokeshire is famous for its coast, but the Preseli Hills deserve just as much attention.
This is ancient, open country with wide views, old tracks, grazing animals, prehistoric sites and a powerful sense of place. The Preselis are also linked with the bluestones used at Stonehenge, which adds an extra layer of mystery.
Walk to a viewpoint, visit a standing stone, or simply stop and take in the landscape. It feels old because it is old. Very old. Older than your nan’s best casserole dish.
13. See Pentre Ifan 🪨
Pentre Ifan is one of the most striking prehistoric monuments in Wales.
This Neolithic burial chamber stands in north Pembrokeshire, with a huge capstone that appears almost impossibly balanced. It is quiet, dramatic and deeply atmospheric.
There are no flashing lights, no gimmicks and no need for them. It has stood for thousands of years. That is quite enough showing off.
14. Explore the Gwaun Valley 🌳
The Gwaun Valley feels like another Pembrokeshire altogether.
It is wooded, winding, green and peaceful, with narrow lanes, old settlements and a sense of being tucked away from the modern world. It is especially beautiful in spring and autumn, but it has atmosphere all year round.
If the coast is Pembrokeshire’s grand stage, the Gwaun Valley is its secret room.
15. Visit a working harbour ⚓🐟
Pembrokeshire’s harbours are full of character. Some are tiny and sheltered. Others are busy, practical places connected to fishing, sailing, trade and local life.
Try Fishguard Lower Town, Porthgain, Solva, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Dale or Milford Haven waterfront. Each has its own feel, but all remind you that Pembrokeshire’s relationship with the sea is not just scenic. It is real, working and historic.
Sit on a wall and watch the boats. It is better than television and has fewer people shouting about sofas.
16. Eat something local by the sea 🍦
A perfect Pembrokeshire food moment does not have to be fancy.
It might be fish and chips on a bench, ice cream on a harbour wall, Welsh cakes after a walk, a picnic above the cliffs, local seafood, cawl, farmhouse cheese, bara brith, laverbread or something warm after a windy beach day.
The key ingredient is the view. Sea air makes everything taste better. This is science. Probably.
17. Walk through Bosherston Lily Ponds 🌿
For a gentler day, head to Bosherston Lily Ponds.
This peaceful walk takes you past freshwater lakes, woodland, wildlife and then towards the beautiful beach at Broad Haven South. In summer, the lilies are a highlight, but the walk is lovely in every season.
It is one of those places where Pembrokeshire shows its softer side. Less crashing waves, more quiet magic.
18. Visit St Govan’s Chapel ⛪🌊
St Govan’s Chapel is one of the most atmospheric places on the Pembrokeshire coast.
Built into the rocks near the sea, this tiny chapel is reached by steps down the cliffside. The setting is dramatic, peaceful and unforgettable. It feels like a place pulled straight from legend.
Access can be affected by local range restrictions in the area, so check before travelling. Also, wear sensible shoes. Historic cliff steps and poor footwear are not a dream team.
19. Learn the stories beneath your feet 📜
Pembrokeshire is layered with history.
There are prehistoric tombs, standing stones, Celtic saints, Norman castles, medieval churches, old fishing harbours, farming traditions, shipwreck stories, military sites, quarries, mines and maritime routes.
Do not just look at the scenery. Ask what happened there. Who lived there? Who built it? Who defended it? Who sailed from it? Who worked there?
The county becomes even more fascinating when you realise the landscape is not just beautiful. It is full of stories.
20. Do absolutely nothing for a while 😌
This may be the most important one.
Find a beach, a harbour wall, a cliff-top bench, a quiet lane, a grassy headland or a sheltered spot with a sea view. Put the phone away. Listen to the waves, the gulls, the wind, the sheep, the boats or just the rare and beautiful sound of nobody needing anything from you.
Pembrokeshire is not only a place for doing. It is a place for stopping.
And that is why people come back.
Not just for the beaches, castles, wildlife, walking, food or history, although all of those are magnificent. People come back because Pembrokeshire gives you room. Room to breathe, room to wander, room to think, room to feel human again.
So pack a coat, even in July. Bring decent shoes. Check the tide. Respect the coast. Keep dogs under control near wildlife and livestock. Take your rubbish home. Support the communities you visit. Leave only footprints.
And whatever you do, do not rush Pembrokeshire.
It has waited millions of years to look this good. It can wait another ten minutes while you finish your ice cream. 🌊🍦
